Principal's Update
Angelika Ireland

COVID-19 Update

Thank you to all our parents / carers in our community for your support during drop off and pick up times by staying out of the school grounds as requested. This has helped keep our students and staff safe.

A positive side effect of this has been the amazing growth in independence and confidence we have seen in our younger students. They now walk into the school on their own, carrying their backpack, know how to find their classroom, unpack their own bag and get themselves ready for the school day!

Since the students have returned to school, we have had a thorough cleaning schedule across the whole school each day. We have had two extra cleaners working in the school from 10:00am until 2:00pm cleaning all the high contact areas over the course of the day.

Unfortunately, the recent spike in the spread of COVID-19 in the Hume Shire is a result of large gatherings of family groups according to the medical authorities. This stresses the importance of not inviting large groups of other adults into the school.

I have not received any updated directions from the Department in regards to Term 3 but will post Compass notices during the term holidays to keep you informed.

I suggest that most processes will continue as they have been for this term, except maybe the staggered drop off and pick-ups.

Term 3 starts on Monday, 13 July.

Greenvale Primary School is a Child Safe School

Our aim is to ensure that all members of the Greenvale Primary School community (including school employees, contractors and volunteers, parents and families and visitors) have a commitment to keeping all children safe from harm in all physical and online school environments including excursions and camps.

All organisations regulated or funded by government that provide services for children are required to work towards compliance with the Child Safe Standards. This includes government and non-government schools, education and care services.

Organisations that provide services for children that have limited or no funding or regulatory relationship with government are included also. This includes religious organisations, sport and recreation groups and coaching and tuition services for children.

Recently, our School Council reviewed the Child Safety policy at its meeting. All members of School Council are required to sign our Code of Conduct as do volunteers, tradespeople and visitors into our school when signing in on our iPad at reception. You can read this policy on our school website.

Our school Child Safety Code of Conduct states that all staff of Greenvale Primary School (GPS) are responsible for supporting the safety, participation, wellbeing and empowerment of children by:

adhering to the GPS child safe policy at all times / upholding GPS statement of commitment to child safety at all time.
taking all reasonable steps to protect children from abuse.
treating everyone with respect.
listening and responding to the views and concerns of children, particularly if they are telling you that they or another child has been abused and/or are worried about their safety or the safety of another.
promoting the diversity cultural safety, participation and empowerment of children
promoting the safety, participation and empowerment of children with a disability (for example, during personal care activities).
ensuring as far as practicable that adults who are with a child are in view of others.
reporting any allegations of child abuse to any of GPS’s Principal Class Officers and ensure any allegation to be reported to the police or child protection.
reporting any child safety concerns to any of GPS’s Principal Class Officers.
ensuring as quickly as possible that the child(ren) are safe if an allegation of child abuse is made.
encouraging children to ‘have a say’ and participate in all relevant organisational activities where possible, especially on issues that are important to them.

For more information on the Child Safe Standards go to the Department of Health and Human Services site at

https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/publications/child-safe-standards

School Uniform

A uniform dress code reinforces in students a pride in their own appearance, instils recognition of themselves as an integral part of the school community, and assists in developing pride in representing their school. Issues of equality, health and safety, and expense are also factors that contribute to the establishment of our dress code.

The wearing of our school uniform aims:

To promote equality amongst all students.
To further develop a sense of pride in, and identification with our school.
To provide a school uniform that is practical, comfortable, attractive and affordable.
To maintain and enhance the positive image of the school in the community.

It has been noted that at times, a student will come to school wearing an item of clothing that is not part of the uniform. Please note the following are not to be worn to school:

Leggings – either as pants or under summer dresses. Uniform is black shorts, black street wear trousers, black trackuit pants or black skorts.
Coloured footwear - footwear should be white or black or a combination of these colours.
Non-school windcheaters or jackets.
Coloured socks - socks should be black or white.

Foundation 2021 Enrolments

If you have a child starting in Foundation in 2021, please contact the office for an enrolment pack. No group school tours are planned at this stage.

Reminder

1:30pm finish on the last day of term. All students will be dismissed at the same time - no staggered pick-ups. Foundation students will again be dismissed from the basketball courts.

Food for Thought:

Regards